9 minute read
Culture
This is where it all began
The stream you drink from is the same that the Viking king Olav Tryggvason drank from more than a thousand years ago. Street art in the pouring rain and a steaming hot espresso at Fargegata: It’s waterful.
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Over time, humans have made use of nature and put their stamp on it. Ever since the first people settled in Norway, 10,000 years have passed. We see remains from our ancestors in the landscapes they left behind, such as in sheltered caves that have been the starting points for homes, burial mounds and house ruins. A rich cultural history bears witness of the past generations who once lived here. After the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago, it was here that the ice first melted and the land reappeared. Thus, it was here the first humans settled down, in what was to become the kingdom of Norway many thousand years later.
The Stone age 10,000–1700 BC
The first “Norwegians” used natural cave shelters as homes, often near large moving boulders near water.
Vistehola is one of Norway’s oldest Stone Age settlement sites. The first people settled here around 6,000 BC. The cave now lies a good distance from the sea, 16 m.a.s.l., but in the Stone Age, the sea waters would have lapped at the cave’s
The Iron Age Farm © Henrik Susort Vistehola © Henrik Susort
entrance. A skeleton of a 15-year old person, known as Vistegutten (Viste boy), was found among bones, antlers and flint tools. It is one of the oldest discoveries of human remains in Norway. (VII/B5)
The Bronze age 1700–500 BC
The society became more organised, and the richest chiefs went on trading or war raids to southern Europe and came back with bronze. We have several burial mounds from the Bronze Age where rich findings have been made. They carved images into the mountains or in caves; rock carvings.
The late Iron age and the Migration period (500 BC–570 AD)
Iron was first imported, and then later extracted in Norway. The further processing of the iron to make i.e. weapons, tools and jewellery became of great importance, as it made it possible to build large oceangoing ships. This was a precondition for the Viking raids. All over the region, you can find traces from this era, remains from
Viking exhibit © Terje Tveit/Museum of Archaeology
farms, castles, burial mounds and “thingstead”. One example of such a site is the Tinghaug area at Klepp. VII/B6
Domsteinene (the domes) is a reconstructed stone circle near Stavanger International Airport, that could have been a place of trials or sacrifice, or just a symbolic site representing the sun and seasonal cycle. VII/B5
The Iron Age farm (Jernaldergården) is a reconstructed farmstead and is today run as a living open-air museum. Visitor centre with cafe and exhibitions. Open daily in summer, rest of the year Sundays. Madlamarkveien 152, Stavanger. jernaldergarden.no VII/B5
Viking age (approx. 750–1100 AD)
Harald Fairhair united Norway into one kingdom in the battle of Hafrsfjord, where you today find the memorial; the “Swords in rock” (VII/B5), made by Fritz Røed. The Vikings are often seen as brutal warriors stealing and violating people on their way. Just as important is the knowledge of the Viking’s justice system and their development of democracy, their near contact with nature and nature’s forces. Not to mention the Viking women’s strong position in their time and the Norse literary heritage that they left behind. The history of the Viking kings and the lives they led, is based on stories from the sagas and traces in nature. Sail in a virtual Viking ship and experience the battle of Hafrsfjord up close at the visitors centre Viking House II/B2. Learn more about Viking history in the Viking exhibition at the Museum of Archaeology II/B5. In 2022 it was 1150 year since the unification of Norway at the battle of Hafrsfjord. rikssamlingsjubileet.no.
The Middle Ages (1050–1537)
In medieval times, the Stavanger region became an important religious hub in Norway. This is reflected in the many stone crosses and churches that appeared in the period. Utstein Monastery (VII/4B) is Norway’s only maintained medieval convent, probably built in the 1260s. The convent is today used as a museum and an event venue. The Stavanger Cathedral (II/B3), 1125, in Anglo-Norman style, is the only medieval cathedral in Norway that has kept its original appearance and been in continuous use. The Sola ruin church (VII/B5) is built on the remains of a Roman stone church from 1100.
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum © Elisabeth Tønnesen/NOM
Museums open all year
Follow in the footsteps of Vikings, kings, fishermen, artists, writers and North Sea divers.
The Museum of Archaeology has a Viking exhibition with interesting findings. Meet people from the past, i.e. the 8,200-year-old skeleton from Vistehola. Travel back in time in our time machine to the Stone Age, play in the Viking longhouse or take the activity quiz through the museum exhibitions. Café and shop. Peder Klowsgate 30 A, Stavanger. arkeologiskmuseum.no II/B5
Egersund Fayancemuseum shows a large collection of Egersund Faience factory’s production through history and has an especially adapted gallery for the blind and visually impaired. Fabrikkgaten 2, Egersund, in shopping centre AMFI Eikunda. dalanefolkemuseum.no V/C2 Garborgsenteret has exhibits on matrimony, language, democracy, literature, modernism and tradition, media, life and society. Learn not only about Arne and Hulda Garborg but get inspired to have a mind of your own. Hetlandsgata 11, Bryne, garborg.no VII/B6
Kvæven Bygdemuseum © Gunhild Vevik
IDDIS The Norwegian Printing Museum and The
Norwegian Canning Museum gives a practical insight into how the canned herring was produced and about the people who made the industry big. On the museum groundfloor, learn about the printing industry in Stavanger and the significance of written language and the art of printing for society. Andasmauet 15, Stavanger. iddismuseum.no (II/B2)
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is a museum suitable for everyone. Learn about the history of the Norwegian oil industry, explore interactive games, play
on the make-believe platform or see films. Kjeringholmen 1a, Stavanger. norskolje.museum.no
II/B2
Sirdal Fjellmuseum/Kvæven rural museum
buildings and objects showing the ancient rural culture in Sirdal. The museum shows a glimpse of everyday life in Sirdal through the course of generations. Tjørhom. sirdal.kommune.no VII/D5
Stavanger Maritime Museum sea houses and merchant’s homes from the 1800s. The exhibits show shipping, trade and shipbuilding. Audio guide in Norwegian, English and German. Cafe and shop. Strandkaien 22, Stavanger, stavangermaritimemuseum.no II/B2 with assistance
Stavanger museum portrays the natural history and cultural history exhibits. Included is the Norwegian Children’s museum with exhibitions of children’s culture and childhood history. Cafe and shop. Muségata 16, Stavanger, stavangermuseum.no II/B4 with assistance
Stavanger Art Museum portrays art from its own collection as well as temporary exhibitions with both Norwegian and international art. Read more on page 45. Henrik Ibsens gate 55, Stavanger, stavangerkunstmuseum.no I/B2
Vitenfabrikken (The Science Factory) Who in the family is best at relaxing? How fast can you drive in a wheelchair? At Vitenfabrikken, there are several floors with exhibitions where the audience gets to be active, and see and play. Get acquainted with
Stavanger museum © Elisabeth Tønnessen, Museum Stavanger
the region’s industrial history and Sandnes city history. Storgata 28, Sandnes vitenfabrikken.no (VI/C5)
Vitengarden (The Science Farm) is an exciting science centre and museum with exhibitions and activities both outside and inside as well as a museum farm with animals and hay to jump in. Explore science and history in new and engaging ways. The Science Farm also shows one of the largest agricultural collections in the country, with tractors and agricultural appliances. Great location! Kviavegen 99, Nærbø vitengarden.no (VII/B6)
II/ B5
1. May – 31. August: Monday – Friday 10.00–16.00 Saturday – Sunday 11.00–16.00
Peder Klows gate 31A Tel. 51 83 26 00 arkeologiskmuseum.no
Summer open museums
Learn more about rural life and cultural history in one of our summer open museums.
Dalane Folkemuseum consists of the Magistrate Feyer’s old country home at Slettebø with exhibits of handcraft and farming. Egersund. dalanefolkemuseum.no VII/C7
Flyhistorisk Museum Sola exhibits Norwegian aviation history from World War II to the present day. jaermuseet.no VII/B5
Grødalandstunet is one of the best-kept farms in our county. A typical farm by the sea with a lovely view of the ocean. grodaland.no VII/B6 Holmeegenes in Stavanger was built as a country estate in the 1860s, with a combined residential and farm building after Danish models, and from the 1890s the property was run as horticulture. The property and buildings were protected by the National Heritage Board in 2005. holmeegenesmuseum.no II/A4
Ledaal was built as a second home for the Kielland family in the period 1799 to 1803. The builder was the merchant and chamberlain Gabriel Scanche Kielland, the great grandfather of writer Alexander Kielland. The house was originally used as a summer and holiday home, but eventually, it became the family’s home. The building is inspired by Danish 1700s architecture with a hint of baroque and rococo. The interior largely reflects the neoclassical ideals of the time inspired by designs from ancient times. ledaal.no II/A3–4
The mansion Breidablikk was built by the merchant, shipowner and politician Lars Berentsen (1838–1895), one of the most wealthy businessmen in Stavanger at the time. His aim was a building which could measure up to the neighbouring property, Ledaal. breidablikkmuseum.no II/A4
Ledaal © Anne Lise Norheim, MUST Flyhistorisk Museum Sola © Jærmuseet
Limagarden Is a mountain farm, with buildings from 1800–1939, beautifully located with views of Limavatn lake. Ytre Lima, Ålgård. Jaermuseet.no VII/B6
At the Kvitsøy hummermuseum (lobster museum) you learn about the lobster’s significance to the Kvitsøy society. Boats and engines, fishing and lobster history. The museum is an ancient sea house with a guest harbour and a summer open restaurant just next door. Kvitsøy. ryfylkemuseet.no VII/A/B4–5
Tungenes lighthouse today functions as a museum and a cultural venue with exhibits, a gallery and a cafe. Open in summer and on Sundays. Randaberg, tungenesfyr.no VII/B5
Holmeegenes © Oddbjørn Erland Aarstad, MUST
Limagarden © Jærmuseet
